General Motors (GM), America’s largest automaker, is shifting production of its Buick brand sport utility vehicles (SUVs) from China to the U.S. This move comes as the Donald Trump administration ramps up pressure with high tariffs, aiming to boost domestic job creation and strengthen the U.S. manufacturing base.
Buick Envision: Ending a Decade of Chinese Production
On Thursday, GM announced it would cease production of the Buick Envision, a mid-size SUV, in China. Since 2017, the Envision has been GM’s sole Chinese-made vehicle imported to the U.S.
GM plans to manufacture the next-generation Envision at its Fairfax assembly plant near Kansas City, starting in 2028. In a statement to Reuters, the company emphasized that this decision aims to bolster its U.S. manufacturing footprint and support American jobs.
Analysts attribute this shift primarily to the Trump administration’s aggressive tariff policies.
Since 2018, GM has faced a 25% tariff on Envision imports. The company’s previous request for a tariff exemption during Trump’s first term was denied. The U.S.-China trade war intensification last year has further heightened tariff barriers on Chinese vehicles.
The Chinese-made Envision has long been a target of criticism from the United Auto Workers (UAW) and politicians in key swing states like Michigan and Ohio, who accused it of taking away American jobs.
Made in U.S. Comeback Gains Momentum
GM’s U.S. production expansion extends beyond the Buick brand. The automaker is already repatriating major models previously manufactured in lower-cost neighboring countries like Mexico.
The Chevrolet Equinox, currently produced in Mexico, will transition to the Kansas City plant in 2027. Similarly, Chevrolet Blazer production will move from Mexico to the Spring Hill plant in Tennessee, also starting in 2027.
The Kansas City plant, which currently produces the electric Chevrolet Bolt, will cease its limited production run and pivot to focus exclusively on internal combustion engine SUVs.
GM’s decision exemplifies the accelerating global supply chain restructuring in the wake of Trump’s second term. The company plans to invest approximately 3.7 billion USD over the next two years to expand its U.S. production base.
Meanwhile, GM maintains that it has no immediate plans to adjust production for vehicles like the Trax crossover, which are manufactured in Korea and exported to the U.S. Industry observers will be closely monitoring these export trends in the coming months.
